Laparoscopic scaffold assembly

Abstract

A scaffold assembly includes an instrument pod and a plurality of actuable movers. The instrument pod may include one or more instruments operably coupled thereto. The instrument pod is inserted through a tissue tract into the body cavity. Each actuatable mover includes an insertion member extending therefrom for insertion within tissue. Each mover has one or more lines removably attachable to the instrument pod that are configured to move the instrument pod between different positions relative to each mover upon the actuation of one or more of the movers to move the instrument pod within the body cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of movably suspending an instrument pod within a body cavity, comprising:
 providing a scaffold assembly, comprising:
 at least one instrument operably associated with the instrument pod; and 
 a plurality of movers, each mover including a tissue insertion member and at least one line extending therefrom, the at least one line being selectively extendable and retractable from each respective mover; 
 
 inserting the instrument pod into the body cavity; 
 attaching the at least one line of at least one of the movers to the instrument pod while the instrument pod and the at least one line are positioned within the body cavity; and 
 selectively extending or retracting the at least one line such that the instrument pod moves within the body cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively moving the instrument pod within the body cavity between two movers. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively moving the instrument pod within the body cavity between three movers. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively operating the at least one instrument within the body cavity wherein the at least one instrument includes at least one of a camera, an illumination source, a grasper, a retractor, and a sensor. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the instrument pod between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising manually actuating at least one of the movers. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electrically actuating at least one of the movers. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument pod has an elongated configuration having first and second opposing end portions, the method further comprising:
 attaching a line of a first mover of the plurality of movers at the first end portion of the instrument pod; and 
 attaching a line of a second mover of the plurality of movers at the second end portion of the instrument pod after insertion of the instrument pod into the body cavity. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , attaching a line of a first mover of the plurality of movers to a first port of the instrument pod;
 attaching a line of a second mover of the plurality of movers to a second port of the instrument pod; and 
 attaching a line of a third mover of the plurality of movers to a third port of the instrument pod. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching at least one of a camera, an illumination source, a grasper, a retractor, and a sensor to the instrument pod. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one line includes attaching at least one of a fiber optic wire and an electrical wire to the instrument pod. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operatively coupling the at least one line to a CPU. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the at least one line from the instrument pod within the body cavity. 
     
     
       14. A method of movably suspending an instrument pod within a body cavity, comprising:
 inserting the instrument pod into the body cavity; 
 attaching at least one line to the instrument pod while the instrument pod and the at least one line are positioned within the body cavity; 
 operably associating the at least one line to a plurality of movers such that the at least one line is selectively extendable and retractable from each mover, the movers including a tissue insertion member; and 
 selectively extending and retracting at least one line with at least one linear actuator operably associated with one or more of the plurality of movers to move the instrument pod within the body cavity. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning the instrument pod between a first collapsed configured and a second expanded configuration. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising manually actuating at least one of the movers. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising electrically actuating at least one of the movers. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising attaching at least one of a camera, an illumination source, a grasper, a retractor, and a sensor to the instrument pod. 
     
     
       19. A method of manufacturing a scaffold assembly for minimally invasive surgery, comprising:
 configuring an instrument pod for insertion through a tissue tract into a body cavity; 
 operably associating the instrument pod with a plurality of actuatable movers that are separate from the instrument pod and from one another; 
 configuring a portion of each mover for insertion within tissue; and 
 configuring at least one line of each mover for removable attachment to the instrument pod within the body cavity to enable each mover to move the instrument pod within the body cavity upon an actuation of at least one of the plurality of actuatable movers.